FLOW Mentoring

The mission of the Future Leaders of the World (FLOW) Mentoring Program is to foster positive mentoring relationships between students in St. Mary’s County Public Schools and members of the community and to provide supported, safe, and inspiring environments in which these matches can cultivate the potential of each youth.

In its tenth year FLOW Mentoring paired over 270 young people in grades 3-12 with caring and responsible mentors. Now in its ninth year of operation, FLOW is running programs in almost every elementary, middle, and high school in the system and will continue to match additional students with community members.

At the elementary level, FLOW Mentoring carefully matches students in grades 3-5 with caring and responsible community members. Mentors and mentees meet at the student’s school one day a week for an hour and a half throughout the academic year. With the support of a school Site Leader, mentors and students participate in fun and meaningful activities to help build social, emotional, and academic skills.

At the middle and high school levels, FLOW Mentoring carefully selects students from each school that would most benefit from group mentoring. These students are matched in groups with teacher or staff mentors. Mentors and their mentees participate in strategic programming to help build social, emotional, academic, and practical skills. Each group mentoring program meets after school for one and a half hours every week throughout the academic year.

At the Fairlead Academy, FLOW mentoring also matches students one-on-one with members of the community. Mentors and mentees meet at the student’s school for approximately one hour each week throughout the academic year. With the support of the school’s Mentor Coordinator, mentors and mentees work together to build social, emotional, academic, and/or practical skills.

All FLOW mentors are provided with comprehensive training sessions and support throughout the program and a qualified school Site Leader or Mentor Coordinator is present at each mentoring site to provide direction and guidance. Prospective mentors should be willing to commit to at least one year with the program.

FLOW Mentoring is administered by the St. Mary’s County Public School system in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Mary’s County Department of Juvenile Services, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Tri-County Youth Services Bureau, St. Mary’s County Business, Education, and Community Alliance, and St. Mary’s County College Access Program. The FLOW Mentoring program is funded through grants from the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, state funds through the Local Management Board, private non-profit donations, and St. Mary’s County Public Schools.

For more information on FLOW Mentoring and to apply to become a mentor, please contact: